The first day of school is always filled with anticipation, curiosity, and a little bit of nervousness. For teachers, it’s the perfect opportunity to set the tone for a year of learning and growth. To help you start the school year smoothly, we’ve created a comprehensive set of free downloadable lesson plans tailored specifically for the first day of 2nd grade.
What do you plan on the first day of 2nd grade?
A wise teacher-friend once said, “If you feed them lunch and get them home the right way, you have had a successful first day.” I try to remember that and keep my expectations low on the first day of school. Some other non-negotiables on the first day of 2nd grade include:
Soft Start: Ensure students are engaged with a task at the beginning of the day so you can manage any morning issues that arise.
Introduce Expectations and Routines: Begin with essential routines such as selecting lunch options, using the bathroom, and lining up.
Getting to Know You Activities: Focus on building classroom community from day one with activities that help everyone get acquainted.
Read-Alouds: Use some of your favorite first-week-of-school books to help students settle down and transition smoothly.
The key is to overplan, but DO NOT try to fit it all in. Take it slow and steady. The best part about not getting to everything is that you have even more to choose from the next day!
Download First Day of 2nd grade Plans
Morning Work Coloring Page
As you open your classroom door, it’s essential to have a simple, engaging morning task ready for your new bunch of bright-eyed kiddos. This is your chance to set the tone, greet each student warmly, and manage the whirlwind of first-day logistics. Trust me, having a straightforward activity—like a fun coloring sheet or a simple word search—gives students something to dive into while you juggle those inevitable “Where do I put my backpack?” inquiries. Keep it light, keep it easy, and watch your morning unfold smoothly, giving you the headspace to connect and welcome each student personally.
All About My Name Activity
Once we are settled in, I will call the class to the carpet. This is the golden opportunity to set the stage for an impactful daily morning meeting time. This initial meeting isn’t just about introductions—it’s about establishing a sense of community, setting expectations, and sprinkling a bit of excitement for the adventures to come. Share a fun icebreaker, discuss classroom routines, and maybe even throw in a quick game to break the ice. For the first days of school, I like to incorporate a lot of activities about names. I want my students to learn one another’s names as soon as possible. This free “All About My Name” activity is a simple way to share about names.
Reviewing Routines and Procedures
Every teacher knows ALL that expectations and routines make the classroom run smoothly. The trick is to sprinkle this instruction throughout the day. If you go over routines and procedures in small chunks, students are less likely to zone out and more likely to remember what to do. The key is to practice SEVERAL times over days…weeks even! Keep track of which routines and procedures you’ve taught and practiced with this free checklist.
Puzzle About Me
After reading “The Day You Begin“, students illustrate pictures that represent them on the puzzle paper. I love how this book highlights the strength of our differences and backgrounds. Through this activity, students will be able to share pieces of their lives (see what I did there?).
Encourage them to fill the entire page! Then, they cut it out and swap it with a partner. Once they have put their partner’s puzzle together, they can share their pictures. You can grab this activity for free here.
I like to keep these puzzles in baggies and store them in a bin for early finishers to complete over the next couple weeks! This is such a fun and engaging way for students to learn more about each other.
Behavior Stories
A few years back I decided to create some stories about fictional students who make positive and negative choices. We use these stories to jumpstart conversations about behavior, not just in the classroom but all over the school. This packet includes recess, lunchroom, bathroom, hallway, groups, and homework! You could even have students act out the fictional character to model acceptable and unacceptable behavior!
Find a Classmate Who…
By the second half of the day, students are typically SPENT. I avoid the “heavy stuff” and try to focus more on activities that get them moving around and talking. This is a classic back-to-school activity for students to communicate with their classmates and find out more about them. I make it a rule that they have to have a different person’s name for each box and they have to ask them a question versus just handing them the sheet of paper and having them sign.
Stand, Sit, Hands on Hips
This is a fun and EASY no-prep way to learn more about your students. Simply display the question slides. Students respond to the question by standing, sitting, or standing with their hands on their hips. I like to follow up with some additional questions. These are a great time-filler when you need something quick to do in 5-10 minutes. I love that it gets students moving around!
All the activities in this post are linked in this free downloadable lesson plans. Make sure to click “USE TEMPLATE” to create your own copy!
Download First Day of 2nd grade Plans
These resources are designed to engage your students, establish classroom routines, and foster a positive learning environment from day one. Whether you’re a seasoned educator or a new teacher preparing for your first class, these lesson plans will provide a solid foundation to ensure a successful start to the academic year. Let’s dive in and make this first day memorable for both you and your students! Read more Back to School blog posts. ]
